Machine for winding armatures



Aug. 12, 1952 P. J. BURDULIS 2,606,723

MACHINE FOR WINDING ARMATURES Filed Dec. 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .Pefer JBuz'a'uZL's ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1952 P BURDUUS 2,606,723

MACHINE FOR WINDING ARMATUREIS Filed Dec. 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Pezer JBu rdu Zz's P. J. BURDULIS MACHINE FOR WINDING ARMATURES Aug. 12, 1952- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. '7, 1948 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR WINDING ARMATURES Peter J. Burdul'is, Delhi, Calif. Application December 7, 1948, Serial No. 63,881

novel mechanisms, adaptedto function inp'rede termined timed relation, to longitudinally recip rocate a supported armature for wire deposit inthe armature slots; to lower the fed wires beyond each end of said supported armature to assure of full engagement of the wires in the armature slots; and to circumferentially oscillate the arma ture a part turn for correct wire spanning between generally opposed slots;

Another object of the invention is to provide a-machine for winding arm'atures, which is elec-'- tric motor driven, and includes novel timed drive means for theabove mechanisms which 1ongitu'' dinally reciprocate and circumferentially oscillate the supported armature, alternately; and the mechanism which causes lowering of thefed wires beyond the ends of the armature.

, A further object of the instant invention. is to provide a machine for winding armatures, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein said drive means includes a novel, power driven-cam assembly; the latter including a plurality of: simultaneously driven cams acting in predetermined I 6 Claims. (01. 242-13) timed relation to eachother whereby the machine, 7

functions, on each cycle thereof, throughsuccessive operating steps, smoothly, positively, and eifectively. v

An additional object of the inventionisto pro vide'a machine for winding armatures, which is designed for substantially fool-proofoperatiom' the construction of the machine being. such that itrequires a minimum of servicing orrepair', while providing. long life for the intended purpose.-

It is also an object of the invention to provide the machine with an automatic,- electric motor shut-off device operative upon winding of a predetermined number of turns of wire between gen' erally opposed slots of a supported armature; such shut-off device thereby eliminating the necessity of the operator counting the turns of wire and manually stopping the machine after a predetermined number of such turns have been applied to the armature. g

A further object of the invention" is' to provide a practical and reliable machine for winding armat'ures, and one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear-by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of themachine taken from its drive end; the electric motor and adjacentv drive mechanism being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4' is a fragmentary rear elevation of the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises a heavy-duty, horizontal, base I, such base being of. substantial size, rectangular, and somewhat elongated.

Substantially centrally of its ends, and adjacent but short of its rear edge, the base I is fitted with an upstanding housing 2, and the top of su'chhousing forms a bed 3. Y

A: horizontal, longitudinal slide 4, adapted for lengthwise reciprocatiomis mounted in the bed 3 of the upstanding housing 2, and such slide 4 carries the armature supporting structure, which is as follows:

Adjacent opposite ends thereof the slide 4 is fitted with relatively shortlstandardst andzii; thetstahdard 5 including. 'a bearing I in which a relativelyshortshaftil is journaled; said shaft projecting: on: opposite sides of said bearing. At its" inner en'd'the shaft 8 supports a chuck 9 for the reception of one end of an armature shaft In in gripped relation. The standard 6 supports a. cradle. H which receives the other end portion of the armature shaft 18;:the cradle I lbeingv adjustably mounted, as at l2. With the-above arrangement an. armature i3 is positively sup ported by the. chuclrl 9 and cradle II, with the armature shaft lll'i'na horizontal, longitudinal position for rotation by said chuck 9.

'I hestan'dardi 55, outwardly of the hearing I, is fitted with an upwardly toothed transverse rack M disposed for horizontal reciprocation. The outer'er i'd of the shaft 8 carries a pinion1 5 which meshes with the rack l4 whereby reciprocation of the latter is translated into circumferential oscillation of theshaft 8, and supported armature I'3. Stop heads l6 on the rack Hi on opposite sides of the standard 5 limit the travel of the rack; such stop headsincluding bumpers fl' 'for' engagement with said standard 5.

moans Each cycle of operation of the machine includes two opposed reciprocating strokes of the armature I3 and two opposed part-turn oscillating movements of said armature, with said strokes and movements in alternate relation.

The mechanism employed to actuate the slide 4 and rack l4 to accomplish the above cycle are as follows:

An input drive shaft l8 extends horizontally into the'housing 2 from one end thereof, and in such housing the shaft 18 is fitted with a worm I9 which drives a worm gear 26 from below. The worm gear 20 is fixed on a cross shaft 2|, and in 41; suchindex arm 41 having a radial row of turn such cross shaft 2! drives alongitudinal, horizontal countershaft 22 by means of a bev el gear unit 23. A cam 24, of internal type, is fixed on the cross shaft 2! between the worm gear 26,

and the bevel gear unit 23. Another cam 25, likewise of internal type, is fixed on the countershaft 22 in generally the transverse vertical plane of the chuck 9.

Plungers 26 and 21 project horizontally into the housing 2 through guide bosses 28 and 29 generally radially of the cross shaft 2| and countershaft 22, respectively; such plungers including corresponding rollers 30 and 3| which ride in the cams 24 and 25, respectively. As so mounted the plunger 26 works lengthwise of. the machine, while the plunger 21 works transversel-y thereof. The cams 24 and25 are each generated with dwells approximately 90 apart, and said cams are fixed'on their respective shafts so that'when one cam is in its dwell the other is acting to reciprocate the corresponding plunger 26 or 21. In other words, when one of the plungers is being power thrust inwardly or outwardly, the other plunger is stationary, and at one end of its stroke. This timed reciprocation of the plungers 26 and 2! is converted into timed alternate reciprocation of .the slide 4 and rack [4, as follows:

At its :outer end the .plunger 26 is pivotally linked, as at 32, to an upstanding swing lever 33 pivoted, at its lower end, as at 34,'t0 a mount 35 on the base; the swing lever 33 moving in a longitudinal vertical plane. The link 32 is adjustably pivotally connected, as at 36, to the lever 33, whereby to alter the effective stroke of the latter.

At its upper end the swing lever 33 is pivotally linked, a'sat 31, to the adjacent end of the slide 4. 'With this arrangement; powered reciprocation of the plunger 26, which comprises a stroke in each direction with a'dwell therebetween, ac-.

of said The linkage 38 is adjustably connected to. .the

swinglever 39, as at 42, whereby the effective throw of said lever may be selectively altered.

At its upper end the swing lever, 39 is connected to the adjacent end of the rack 4 by means of an open cross head 43, which includes an ,exposed; longitudinally extending slide bar 44 which runs through a guide box 45 on the upper end of swing lever 39. The guide box 45 includes spaced anti-friction rollers 46 which engage on opposite sides of the slide bar 44. With this arrangement, swinging of lever 39 in a transverse vertical plane effects sliding motion of the rack l4, whilepermitting of the slide 4, wit h the rack l4 mounted thereon, to reciprocate lengthwise of the machine without interference; the slide bar 44 then running freely through the guide box 45.

The extent to which the armature I3 rotates with reciprocation of the rack I4 is regulated by the following indexing device:

Between the chuck 9 and bearing 1 a circular index plate 46 is journaled on the shaft 8, being initially free thereon. The chuck 9'is fixed in connection with the index plate 46 for rotation therewith. Between the index plate 46 and bearing 1 the shaft 8 carries a fixed, radial index arm spaced holes 48 therein, each of which holes is adapted to register selectively with one of the holes in a corresponding row of circular holes 49 in the index plate 46. A headed index pin 50 engages selectively through any one of the holes 48 in index arm 41, and a selected and matching one of the holes 49 in the index plate 46. With thisindexing device, the part-circle rotation of the chuck 9 and supported armature [3, which results upon each stroke of the rack 14, can be preselected so as to alternately dispose generally opposed armature slots 5| uppermost.

The wire guide unit of the machine, indicated. generally at 52, comprises a post 53 which upstands from the back of the housing 2 in a transverse vertical plane generally centrally between the chuck 9 and armature shaftcradle II. The lower end portion of the post 53 is supported, in vertically guided, non-turnable relation, in an upstanding guide sleeve 54 ailixed. to the housing 2 at the back. At its lower end the post 53 is counter-balanced by a compression spring unit 55, and above such unit the sleeve 54 is open and insuch opening 56 a finger 51 is secured to the post. The finger 51 extends laterally from. the post 53-and rides a cam 58 which includes a pair of fall-off points- 59 approximately 180 apart. With this arrangement the fingerf5'l rides the cam 58, holding the post 53in a-normally raised position; the timing being'such that the post 53 is so raised as the armature 53 reciprocates on onestroke or the other. However, immediately at the end'of such reciprocating stroke of the armature IS, the finger 5! falls off one of the points 59 of cam 58, resulting ina relatively short drop of said post 53, whicndrop is for a afterdescribed: r v

At its upper end the post 53 is fitted with a cross'arm- 66'; the forward end of which directly overhangsthep'ath of reciprocationof the amiapurpose hereinmm 13. At'oppositeendsthe cross arm '60 carries wire guide pulleys 6|.-

Below the cross arm 66 the post carries a slide collar 62 having a forwardly projecting radial arm '63 thereon; the collar 62 normally resting on-another'collar 64 vertically adjustably disp'osedonthe post.

A coupling. pin 65 upstands from the'collar 64 and-:isarec'eived in a matching socket in the collar 62. This prevents. lateral motion of the forwardly projecting radial arm 63, but does not limit its upward movement by hand should necessity. demand. As the collar 64 is adjustable, likewiseis the radial arm 63.

A short neck 66 depends from the outerend of the radial arm 63, and atits lower end said neck is fitted with a wire guide head 61.

During operation of the machine wire supply spools (not shown) extends upwardly over the rear pulleys 6l, thenc e passes forwardly to and ever-the front pulleys 6l',]and depends to and through the-guide head -61, which guide heade is normally disposed very' close toithe path of reciprocation of the armature" l3, and in vertical alinement :with the armature shaft. -The input-drive shaft I8 is driven; during operation' of the machine, from an electricv motor 68 mounted on the" base I: in driving relation to'said inpu-t-driveshaft l8 by'means including a clutch 69 adapted to be" engaged or disengaged by a-clutch control lever H1 pivoted, as at H, and upstanding therefrom for manipulation; The clutch '69 is initially engaged by manual actuation of the lever .10 in the direction of the housing 2, and is arranged for disengagement by means of aisolenoid 12 mounted. adjacent the motor. 68. Thesolenoid' plunger 13 is pivotally linked, as at: 14, to the lever 10', whereby upon energizationof the solenoid 12 its plunger 13 pulls the lever 70 in a direction awayfrom the housing 2, disengaging the clutch 69., The solenoid 12 is automatically energized, at predetermined times during the operation of the machine, in the manner hereinafter described.

. A-hand wheel I fixed relative to the input driveshaft. [8' permits of the manual operation of. the driving means .of the machine at the start,. whereby to. properly dispose ofall of the working parts .in proper position. r

. Inv operation of the above. describedmachine, b

the armature i3 is first mounted in supported position on the slide 4 by securing said armature in. connection with the chuck 9 and cradle H the indexing: device comprised of index plate AIL-index, arm- 41, and, index pin 50 then being adjusted to-correspond to. the type and size of thearmature. Q

Thereafterthe wiresare threaded on the-wire guide unit '52, as above'described'. and lead from the'head fil ,downwardly. J The electric motorafia isthen placed in oper-, ation,: and through the medium of the camactuateddriving mechanisms heretofore described, the .supportedarmature is repeatedly reciprocated longitudinally and oscillated circumferen tially, alternately,; ina wire receiving cycle. .As the armature thus reciprocates and oscillates below the'wire guide head 61, the wire is fed into generally opposed slots 5| of the armature,

with the wire, looping between'said slots at the armature ends. The purpose of the dropping or lowering of the post 53 and the wire guide head 6'! at the end of each reciprocating stroke of the armature, which dropping is caused by the fall-off cam 58, is to assure that the wire as fledf-from said head 51 into the adjacent slot 5| is -in full engagement therein beforedfiaid armature starts its next following circumferential oscillating movement. v

, Thecam 58 raises the post 53 and guide head 61 back to its normal position before the armature again reciprocates lengthwise.

After a predetermined number of turns of wires have been wound or looped between generally opposed slots 5| of the armature [3, the solenoid is automatically energized to cause disengagement of the clutch 69, and this is accomplished as follows:

Exteriorly of the housing 2 and at the front thereof, the cross shaft 2| is fitted with a cam 1'6 which aotuates a guided plunger 11 by means of a roller 18 on said plunger riding in the cam. The cam 16 is generated so that it advances the plunger 11 once with each full revolution of the cross shaft 2 I, which corresponds to the winding of'one loop of .wireabout the armature i3. The plunger 11 carries a spring pressed pawl 19 which works incooperation' with a ratchet wheel 80 fixed on a stub shaft Bl journaled in connection with the'adjacentside of the housing 2. s A pin 82 .projects laterally inwardly from the ratchet wheel 80 adj acent. its periphery, and said pin isr'adapted: to engage, with rotation of the ratchet wheel 80, with the'push button.83 of a normally open micro-switch 84. mounted on the housing 2. When the pin82 engages and .de-. presses the button 83,v the switch 84 is .closed, such switch in turn, by reason of its interposition therein, closing the circuit'85 .of the solenoid vI2. The moment that the solenoid I2 is energized. itsv plunger 13 retracts, swinging the lever 10 in a direction to disengage the clutch .69,

At the outset of each winding operation the pin 62' is raised or backed away from the button 83 a distance predetermined; by the notches of wheel 8!] corresponding to the numberof loops of. wire to be wound. on the armature. So that this resetting of the ratchet. wheel 'Bllcan be readily accomplished, and to the same. extent for each winding operation, astop 85 is disposedri'n the path of the pin rearwardly thereof; such stop 86 being mounted on a collar 8'! adjustably mounted on a hub which projects from the housing 2. Thus, dependent upon the adjusted position of the stop .86, theznumbe'r of .turns' to be wound on the armature with each. operation is easily predetermined by merely rotating the ratchet wheel 89 backwards until pin 82 abuts stop 86. .7

The machine for winding armatures, as described in the foregoing specificatiomprovides a practical and reliable device for-the purpose; the machine" operating accurately and smoothly for the application of windings to armatures with'a predetermined number of turns to each winding, and with automatic stoppage of the machineafter each set of-turns has-been applied. l

Themachine is relatively simple in its setting and operation, requiring no special skill on the part of the operator to'wind armatures properly.

From the foregoing description it will be read ily seen that there has been produced such a' device as substantiallyfulfills the objects or the inventiomas set forth herein. i v

Whilethis specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction -ofth'e device, stillin practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do notform a departure from the'spirit of the invention, as defined bythe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as newand useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

l. Amachine for winding armatures, comprismg a support, means on the supp rt adapted, to mount an armature for axial reciprocation and circumferential oscillation, mechanisms operative to impart reciprocating strokes and oscillatory movements to the armature alternately in a predetermined wire receiving cycle, and a wire guide unit including a wire guide head mounted adjacent but normally out from the axial path of the armature whereby to feed wire to the latter through said cycle; the armature being mounted with its axis horizontal, and said wire guide unit including a post upstanding from the support to one side of said path, an arm projecting rigidly from the post across and above the armature. the wire guide head being mounted in dependent position in connection with the arm adjacent its outer end, and a wire guide pulley mounted on'the postabove the wire guide head. 2. A machine for winding armatures, comprising a support, means on the support adapted to mount an armature for axial reciprocationiand circumferential oscillation," mechanisms operative to impart reciprocating strokes and oscillae torymovements tothe armature alternately in a predetermined wire receiving cycle, and a wire guide unit including a wire guide head mounted adjacent but normally out from the axial path of the armature whereby to feed wire to the latter through said cycle; thearmature being mounted with its axis horizontal, and said wire guide unit including a post upstanding from the support to one side of said path, an arm projecting rigidly from the post across and above the armature, the wireguide head being mounted in dependent position in connection with the arm adjacent its outer end, and means mounting the arm for vertical adjustment on the post and comprising a collar on the arm slidably engaging the post, another collar vertically adjustable on the post below said first named collar, and means between the1collars preventing relative rotation therebetween without restricting upward sliding of said first named collar.

3; YA machine for winding armatures, comprising, a support, means on the support adapted to mount an armature for axial reciprocating motion and circumferential oscillation, an electric motor unit mounted on the support,'actuating mechanism connected between the motor unit and said mounting means operative to impart reciprocating strokes and oscillatory movements to the armature alternately in a predetermined wire receiving cycle, and a wire guide unit mounted adjacent the armature whereby to feed wire to the latter through said cycle; the motor unit including a normally engaged clutch, and means responsive to said actuating mechanism operative to automatically cause disengagement of the clutch after a predetermined number of said cycles, said last named means including an electrically actuated clutch disengaging device, a circuit for said device, a control switch in the circuit, a cam actuated pawl and ratchet wheel unit responsive step by step to said actuating mechanism, said steps corresponding to the wire winding cycles, and an element on the ratchet wheel positioned to engage and operate the switch after predetermined rotation of said ratchet wheel. 4. A machine for winding armatures, comprising a support, means on the support adapted to mount an armature for axial reciprocation and circumferential oscillation, mechanism operative to impart reciprocating strokes and oscillatory movements to the armature alternately in a predetermined wire receiving cycle, and a wire guide unit including a wire guide head mounted adjacent but normally out from the axial path of the through said cycle; the armature being mounted with its axis horizontal, and said wire guide unit including a guide sleeve mounted on the support laterally out from the axial path of the armature, a post'supported in vertically guided but nonturnable relation in thesleeve, the sleevebeing provided with a side'opening adjacent its lower end, av counter-balancing spring interposed between the post and the sleeve at a point below said opening, a finger on the post projecting through said opening, a cam journaled on the support, said finger being engageable with said cam, means to operate said cam in timed relation to the reciprocation of the armature whereby to engage said finger and lift the post prior to reciprocating motion of the armature, an arm projecting from the post above the sleeve, such arm projecting to a point above the armature, a wire guide head on the outer end of the post, and a wire guide pulley assembly mounted on the post above the wire guide head.

5. A machine as in claim 3, in which the ratchet wheel is rotatable by hand in a retroac-. tive direction upon release of the pawl, and a circumferentially adjustable stop in the path of retroactive movement of the switch engaging element whereby the wheel may be initially pre-set for a selected number of step-by-step movements to be imparted thereto before said element engages the switch.

6. In an armature winding machine. a shaft, mechanisms to reciprocate the shaft and alternatelyoscillate the ame through an arc of predetermined length, a chuck to support an armature shaft mounted in axial alinement with but separate from the first named shaft, an index plate fixed with the chuck, a radial index arm fixed with the first named shaft, the index plate for the extent of said are having a plurality of concentric rows of holes, each row-having a different number of equally spaced holes, and the indexarm having a single row of holes to register with said rows, and a pin removably projecting in connecting relation through anyone of the arm holes and one of the corresponding row of plate holes.

I PETER J, BURDULIS.

' I REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hunsdorf Aug, 7, 1945 

